This disc contains three selections, a symphony by Antonin Dvorak, and two brief piano works by Arthur Farwell.

Here are the tracks:

1-4. Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904), Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 (From the New World) (1893)

Like the Amy Beach symphony this one is in four movements:

1. Adagio--Allegro molto (slow--very fast) (12:21)
2. Largo (very slow) (12:54)
3. Molto vivace (very lively) (7:58)
4. Allegro con fuoco (quickly with fire) (11:13)

In the late nineteenth century, the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak was one of the world's most famous symphonic writers. He had made a name for himself writing pieces which were influenced by Czech folk music. So, when Jeannette Thurber wanted to create a National Conservatory of Music in the United States, Dvorak seemed a natural choice to serve as Director. Dvorak wrote of this work, "Since I have been in this country I have been deeply interested in the national music of the Negroes and the Indians. The character, the very nature of a race is contained in its national music. For that reason my attention was turned at once in the direction of these native melodies. It is this spirit which I have tried to reproduce in my new Symphony. I have not actually used any of the melodies. I have simply written original themes embodying the peculiarities of the music, and, using these themes with all the resources of modern rhythms, harmony, counterpoint and orchestral color."

Here is a guide to help you through the piece, timing are approximate.

The first movement is in sonata form.

• 0:00 Slow Introduction
• Exposition
  • 1:56 Primary theme
  • 3:00 Secondary theme
  • 4:46 Exposition repeats
• 7:25 Development
• Recapitulation
  • 9:07 Primary theme
  • 9:45 Secondary theme
• 11:20 Coda

The second movement is in three parts:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 0:41 A section
• 5:10 B section
• 9:35 A section
• 11:55 Coda

The third movement also in three sections, but they are called scherzo and trio:

• Scherzo
  • 0:00 A section
  • 0:42 repeat A section
  • 1:25 B section
  • 2:25 A section (portions)
• Trio
  • 3:06 A section
  • 3:23 repeat A section
  • 3:39 B section
  • 4:10 repeat B section
• 5:15 Scherzo
  • can you find the sections?
• 7:17 Coda

The fourth movement is in sonata form

• 0:00 Introduction
• Exposition
  • 0:15 Principal theme
  • 1:50 Secondary theme
• 4:00 Development
• Recapitulation
  • 6:06 Principal theme
  • 6:50 Secondary theme
• 8:00 Coda
  

What elements of Negro or Indian music do you think Dvorak used in his symphony? How does this piece compare to Amy Beach's written just three years later?

5. Arthur Farwell, "Pawnee Horses" (1904) (1:08)
6. Arthur Farwell, "Navajo War Dance #2 (1908) (3:22)

What images of Native Americans do you think Farwell was attempting to capture in these two pieces? How successful was he?